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Category: #WorkTermPride

What is a Mid-Term Review?

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1799917_870792816285162_1128840462137111058_oTaking some time to evaluate and reflect on your experiences while on your first co-op work term is very important to do. It helps you evaluate the skills you are developing, understand your strengths and weaknesses, and can better define your career interests. Understandably, some students may not take the time to properly reflect during the first portion of their first work term and are more focused on performing their best at work or making the best impression they can at their new workplace. Thankfully, your co-op work term includes a mandatory mid-term review session with your Management Career Services Career and Recruitment Specialist. This represents an opportunity to take a step back from your co-op job and really think about how your first work term is helping your career development.

The mid-term review occurs half-way through your first work term and consists of you and a Career and Recruitment Specialist from Management Career Services meeting either in person or on the phone to discuss the following areas of your work experience:

  • Job expectation versus reality (it terms of job descriptions and tasks/projects)
  • Favourite and most challenging aspects of your position
  • Areas of strength and improvement
  • Discuss new skills and knowledge you’ve obtained
  • Goals for the remainder of your work term10620596_823125364385241_5652521985044909236_n

The mid-term review is an honest and confidential experience that should help you realize your strengths, discuss areas of improvement, and truly evaluate how your first work term experience will help you define your career interests.

In addition to meeting with you, your Career and Recruitment Specialist will also be conducting mid-term review with your employer whose feedback can go a very long way in helping you understand who you are as an employee and a professional in the workplace. Ultimately, the mid-term review is a critical part of any co-op and your career development.

During your mid-term review you will also have the opportunity to show how much you’re enjoying your first co-op by participating in the work term pride campaign that will showcase you as a successful and proud student!

For more information on the mid-term review process and other approaching check points in the Commerce Co-op program, visit the Commerce Orientation Workbook under the Resources section of myCareer.

Your Midterm Review: More Than Just a Meeting

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MeetingWhat Is The Midterm Review?

The Midterm Review is a formal meeting a Career Recruitment Specialist (CRS) has with you and your employer. Basically, it is an assessment to gauge how you are progressing through your work term.  Whenever possible, an effort is made to conduct midterm reviews in person, but reviews may also be carried out over the phone, or in rare instances, over email.

The Midterm Review is not only a great opportunity for students to self-reflect and keep track of the skills they have learned and developed, but also gives them a chance to reflect on the skills they still need to develop. It allows both students and employers to make sure they are on the right track to achieve a mutually beneficial work term.

The CRS first meets with the employer to collect some feedback and learn whether you, the student, are meeting the expectations of the workplace. The CRS will ask your employer a series of questions about your responsibilities, your performance/progress, and your ability to succeed in the work environment. Most importantly they discuss your strengths and weaknesses: areas were you have excelled and areas that need further improvement.

When the CRS meets with you, they will discuss the comments the employer has made regarding your progress so far. This meeting gives you the opportunity to discuss your experience with the work term to date. For example, how you like the job, the projects you’ve been working on, what you’ve learned, and any challenges you may be facing. Any problems that need attention are addressed and a plan to resolve them is set in motion for the remainder months of the work term.

 

Calvin and Hobbes comicShould I Prepare Anything For My Midterm Review?

The best way to prepare for your Midterm Review is to start your Work Term Report. Your Work Term Report is meant to help you reflect on the skills you have developed and the skills that still need improvement. It also gives you the chance to communicate with your employer to see if you on the same page. By opening the lines of communication between you and your employer, you can get a better sense of which skills they want you to work on. Sometimes the employer and student have very different ideas of how the work term is progressing, so starting your Work Term Report will allow you to think about and work on these skills before you meet with a CRS. The earlier you start, the less stress you will face later on.

 

NervousShould I Be Nervous?

In short, no. As long as you are meeting the expectations of your employer and working on self-improvement, you have nothing to worry about. Once again, by communicating regularly with your employer you get a better sense of where you stand. Communicating with your employer also minimizes any surprises when you meet with your CRS. Remember, in order for you to successfully pass your work term, you must have a positive final evaluation from your employer. Communication is very important, both with your employer and with your CRS. If you have any questions or concerns, know that Management Career Services will always be there to help you.

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